Plate spacer for vent pipe



June 26, 1956 s. EPSTEIN PLATE SPACER FOR VENT PIPE Filed Oct. 3, 1952 a 4 2 a a w 1) 2 a 4. Z 7 w a m m M an" E 9 25 NM n an M TH E R SV 72m PN R E E A NE a w um ww y a w. 6 2 a 1 PLATE SPACER FOR VENT PIPE Saul Epstein, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 3, 1952, Serial No. 312,898

3 Claims. (Cl. 24-73) This invention relates to improved means for installing a vent pipe in a wall of a building structure, and more particularly to a new and improved combined plate spacer and strap construction, whereby a vent pipe willbe spaced and centered between opposite wall surfaces, and simultaneously yieldably but firmly secured, and also preferably centered, in spaced parallel relationship to adjacent vertical studs, or corresponding building frame structures.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a new and improved vent pipe securement, particularly adapted for placement at a cut ceiling plate or wall top plate, to provide a fireproof ventilated access therethrough of a vent pipe of preferred oval type.

It is also among the objects of the invention to provide simple sheet metal structures of opposed interchangeable configuration, capable of being manufactured as integral cooperative units by simple manufacturing techniques.

A further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved resilient means preferably integral with the supporting body of the spacer for retaining a vent pipe in a predetermined resilient grip.

A further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved essentially rigid holding and securement means associated with a plate spacer and strap combination, having predetermined built-in resilient gripping features.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a new and improved spacer and strap combination of the desired character described, of new and improved convenient mounting means, and optional convenient indexing means associated with said mounting means, or independent thereof, to minimize the labor and measurement required for permanent and satisfactory wall installation of a vent pipe.

It is moreover among the objects of this invention to provide improvements over prior art devices heretofore contemplated for generally similar purposes.

Other and more specific objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification considered with reference to the accompanying drawings throughout which like parts are designated by like numerals. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one-half of a vent pipe spacer embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a vent pipe spacer embodying this invention, as used.

Figure 3 is a top View of a spacer half corresponding to said half shown in Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a vent pipe spacer comprising preferably interchangeable halves 10 and 11.

In order to conserve material, each half 10 and 11 of the spacer is preferably formed of a rectangular blank of sheet metal. The ends 13 and 14 of each half are provided with suitable securing means, such as nail holes 15, and a superjacent portion 16 is bent at right angles 4 nited States Patent to the general plane of each hanger portion 10 and 11 as a convenient securing flange.

Between the flanges 16, each half 10 and 11 is cut, as at 17, to form elongate fingers 18 and 19 along the top edge of each half of the hanger, extending generally lengthwise of the hanger from a common station of securement 20.

The fingers 18 and 19 are respectively offset at 21 to provide surface portions 22 adapted to engage the side wall of a double walled vent pipe of any desired construction 23. Said pipe 23 may be formed in the manner described in my co-pending application for Sheet Metal Vent Pipe. The fingers are also preferably bent at 24 in any desired manner for general conformity to an edge portion 25 of the vent pipe.

The fingers are further bent at 26 and 27 to provide outwardly directed ends 28, whose tips 29 are also bent downwardly to engage the upper edge 17 of the main body if the spacer is in use, as will be described.

The tips 29 of said fingers 28 normally, however, are spaced slightly from the main body of the respective hanger halves and edges 17.

In the use of the instant hangers the ceiling plate, as 30, of a building frame is cut, as at 31, preferably midway between two vertical studs 32, and one of the halves 10 is centered between the studs 32 upon the ceiling plate in the customary and conventional spacing of such studs at, for example, 16" centers.

A section of pipe 23 of suificient length to extend from a header, not shown, or other subjacent section of pipe, through the ceiling plate is centered against said spacer portion 10, and a second half 11 is similarly nailed to the opposite side of the ceiling plate.

Inasmuch as the fingers 18 and 19 are somewhat resilient and yield outwardly by virtue of the above mentioned normal space left during manufacture between the down-turned tips 29 of the fingers 28 and the edges 17 of the main body of the respective spacer portions against which they are in use adapted to engage, said fingers will yield outwardly until the tips 29 engage the edge 17 of the respective spacer halves. By this means the pipe 23 is held in a substantially cushioned and resilient grip between opposed fingers 18 and 19 on the opposite spacer half. Such resilience aifords a tolerance not merely for variations in the diameter of the pipe 23, but also in the Width of the ceiling plate or other frame structure portions to which the spacers are secured.

To facilitate their securement to other portions of the frame, as with studs 32, the flanges 16 may be omitted, thus permitting the spacers to lie flush at their ends 13 and 14 against vertical portions of the frame, such as studs 32.

The main body 11 of the spacers has some give a1- though not so much as the narrower fingers 18 and 19, and when the fingers have engaged the edges 17 and the inside of the main body of the respective hanger halves, a firm securement is made which will not be dislodged by any main force and which will resist vibration. It is not necessary that the ends 29 of the fingers 18 and 19 be actually engaged against the edge 17 of both hanger halves to make the desired firm securement, but such engagement may be provided for if desired.

In this connection it may be noted that the bend 27 in each finger is angulated preferably relative to the vertical in order that the fingers at 28 will be bent downwardly for engagement with the edge 17 after installation. Said bend at 27 is also optionally less than in order that it may be struck with a hammer, or otherwise bent to an angle of 90 or thereabout, whereby the effective outward extension of each finger portion 28 is increased to permit its engagement with the corresponding edge 17 of the respective hanger half of which it is a part. Accordingly, if resilient securement by means of the resilience of the fingers themselves is not deemed suificient, it is easily possible to cause engagement of the ends 29 with their corresponding main body portion atthe respective hanger halves. Such engagement, however, normally occurs in an average installation. 7 7

By Way of further illustration of a satisfactory material and proportion for production of the instant hanger, it has been found that usually 20 gauge or heavier, e. g. 12 gauge, galvanized or black iron sheet material may be employed therefor. This material has been found suitable in particular for a nominal 4" oval vent pipe, whose actual outside dimensions are approximately 2 /8" x 7%" in diameter, and whose inner pipe or flue has a crosssectional area approximately that of a 4" round double wall vent pipe, i. e., approximately 12 /2 square inches. The instant hanger, using. the materials in proportions above noted, the hanger halves each being approximately 18 inches long, approximately 2 inches high overall, and the fingers being approximately /2" in width, has proven quite satisfactory when used with a double wall sheet metal vent pipe, the outer wall of which is made of .018

aluminum. In such construction the central station 20 is approximately 1 /2" long, and the flanges 16 approximately 2" long, the balance of the hanger length corresponding to the length of the two fingers 18 and 19.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures maybe made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and devices.

I claim:

1. A spacer member for'supporting a vent pipe in a wall comprising, a fiat elongated sheet metal body portion having means at the ends thereof for securing the same to a wall structure, a central integral portion of said body portion extending from one edge thereof and having integral resilient fingers thereon extending in generally opposite directions therefrom and generally in the direction of length of said body portion but both being offset to the same side of the plane of said body portion and outwardly of said one edge, the end portions of said fingersbeing bent to extend generally toward said body portion and terminating closely adjacent'thereto.

2. A spacer member as defined in claim 1 wherein the portions of said fingers adjacent said bent end portions are offset from the plane of said body portion a greater amount than those finger portions adjacent said central integral portion.

3. A spacer member as defined in claim 1 wherein the end portions of said fingers are so twisted that said bent end portions are directed toward abutment with said body portion.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 751,443 7, 'Anthes Feb. 9, 1904 1,246,585 Geraerdts Nov. 13, 1917 1,315,225 Hughes Sept. 9, 1919 1,429,776 Robinson Sept. 19, 1922 1,828,421 Levinsky Oct. 30, 1931 2,537,662 .Flora Jan. 9, 1951 

